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Monthly Archives: February 2017

In the good old days, if you needed an umbrella, you would wind up with a long stick umbrella. And it would be black. But in recent years there have been several recent innovations and amazing feats of engineering applied to the age old rain umbrella.

Perhaps the most dramatic option for an umbrella is the method of opening. Manual umbrellas are opened and closed by sliding the ring up and down the shaft, at the whim of the user. There have been, for several years now, automatic umbrellas which would pop open at the push of a button, located on the handle. These spring-loaded umbrellas are really handy and can usually open faster than a traditional manual umbrella. Even more recently some ingenious engineers have discovered how to manufacture umbrellas which automatically open and close. These are the ultimate in convenience. A word of caution, being complex mechanical machines, automated umbrellas occasionally will break and become either stuck open or stuck closed. If you wish to take advantage of an automatic umbrella, I recommend getting a higher quality umbrella with a lifetime warranty.

The next amazing innovation for the modern umbrella is the double canopy. This design features overlapping slits in the canopy, the theory being that wind can flow through these slits rather than being captured by the canopy and forcing the umbrella to invert. (Inverting is usually the best sign that you need a new umbrella.) There are many different variations to the double canopy, but in essence they all work the same, and can mitigate damage to this valuable accessory. Most umbrellas with double canopies have been found to withstand winds up to 50 mph (80 kph.) Indeed, if your double canopy umbrella becomes inverted, it’s time to seek immediate shelter and get indoors!

Another option to consider is whether to get a traditional stick umbrella or a folding umbrella. Folding umbrellas are also marketed as compact or ultra compact. The shaft of these umbrellas telescopes out when opened and can provide adequate coverage for individuals, while collapsing down to less than a foot in length for convenient carrying. Traditional stick umbrellas, though certainly bulkier, are also going to be more durable.

The material used for the canopy for an umbrella is worth mentioning. Most umbrellas are manufactured from nylon because of its durability as well as being freely available and cost effective. Pongee (pronounced “Ponj”) is a type of silk cloth. It is rare to find umbrellas made exclusively from Pongee, but you are likely to find Poly-Pongee. This polyester and silk combination is more widely used, and due to the silk content is a little more costly. The advantage to poly-pongee is that it is a lighter weight fabric. You will also find some select umbrellas made from a polyester canopy. Each of these fabrics have been found to provide superior protection from both the sun and rain. Of note for custom imprinting, nylon tends to hold and reflect imprints better. If you are considering putting a logo on an umbrella, it would be best to do so using a nylon canopy.

Do you like to golf in the rain? Umbrella manufacturers often produce purpose built golf umbrellas which are characterized by a larger than average size canopy (typically with 62 or 68 inch arcs,) a longer that usual traditional stick shaft, and finally a straight handle. Golf umbrellas also come in a very large variety as far as colors and patterns. Golf umbrellas have become popular among not just golf clients as they also work well for families.

Another large umbrella to consider are the Doorman Umbrellas, which are purpose built for commercial use by hotels and apartments. Doorman umbrellas are similar to golf umbrellas with the two exceptions that they usually feature a traditional J shaped handle, and come in a limited number of color options. Doorman umbrellas are also well engineered for durability and make a perfect umbrella for families as well.

For the commuter or business worker there are several travel umbrellas. These are compact folding umbrellas which include a convenient carry case or other pouch. Some even incorporate loops and straps so that the umbrella can be carried on ones back like a backpack.

Under the moniker of fashion umbrellas there are several models of umbrellas which are meant to make a personal statement or even match for coordinated apparel. There are few fast rules for fashion umbrellas, and you will find a wide range as far as quality and durability is concerned. When selecting a fashion umbrella (as opposed to a “fad” umbrella) consider using a reputable umbrella company who will endorse their products with a warranty.

In recent years, your options have really expanded as far as purchasing an umbrella.

Before you put money down, it is important to consider your lifestyle and your individual use for an umbrella. Once you understand what features you require in an umbrella, it then becomes a simple exercise in finding the umbrella which best suits you. If you have some trouble finding that perfect umbrella, consulting with umbrella experts like those found at UmbrellasAndBeyond.com can save you time and money in your hunt for appropriate rain protection.

Romantic communication is just one of the proven communication tools you can use to make your man fall madly in love and fulfill your heart’s romantic desires. There is a lot of love-creating power in the romantic words that come out of your mouth. This article will reveals 70 romantic phrases you can start using today to make your man fall madly in

love. You may not say these things phrased exactly the way I have written them, but if you want your man to be addicted to your love, you must speak to him with words that will melt the walls he has build around his heart.

Feel free to use any of the romantic phrases that best suit your communication style.

1. All I care about is being with you forever.

2. All the gold and diamond in the world are not enough to buy the love I have for you.

3. God created you for just for me.

4. I am addicted to your love.

5. I am crazy about you.

6. I cannot live without you.

7. I cannot stop thinking about you.

8. I did not mean to hurt your feelings.

9. I do not want to wake up from this wonderful dream with you.

10. I feel safe when I am with you.

11. I get lost in ecstasy when you make love to me.

12. I have finally discovered true love – you.

13. I love talking to you.

14. I love the way you make love to me.

15. I miss your hugs and kisses when we are apart.

16. I thank God for the day he brought you into my life.

17. I want to spend forever with you.

18. I will give anything to be with you.

19. I will give you my heart, my body, and my soul.

20. I will go with you to the ends of the world as long as you keep loving me.

21. I will rather be broke than trade your love for a million dollars.

22. I will travel a thousand miles to be with you.

23. I wish God had brought you to me sooner.

24. If anything happens to you, I will go crazy.

25. If I could I would make love to you a thousand times.

26. If I had to live life over again, I would live it with you.

27. If loving you is a sin, then let me be guilty.

28. If our love is blind, then I never want it to see the light of day.

29. Life without you will be like going to sleep and never having sweet dreams.

30. Loving you feels like heaven.

31. Loving you has made life even sweeter.

32. Loving you has made my life so full of joy and happiness.

33. My heart cries when we are apart.

34. You are my love, my heart, and my life.

35. No man has loved me the way you love me.

36. Nothing will ever stop me from loving you.

37. Ooh sweetie, you are so good to me.

38. Your warm hugs and your tender kisses are more precious than gold.

39. Talking to you is like sipping the most delicious wine – I want it to last forever.

40. The times we spend together are like precious gems that money cannot buy.

41. Time stops when you hold me in your arms.

42. When I am with you, my troubles seem to melt away.

43. When I look at you I see a man that I find irresistible.

44. Words are not enough to express how much I love you.

45. You are my prince.

46. You are my soul mate.

47. You are the most important person in my life.

48. You are the music that makes my heart sing.

49. You are the only man I ever want in my life.

50. You are the other half that makes me feel whole.

51. You are the perfect man for me.

52. You are the sweetest man I know.

53. You bring nothing but love, peace, joy, and happiness to my soul.

54. You bring so much joy and happiness to my life.

55. You love me gently.

56. You make me feel like a woman.

57. You make me feel so good I want to kiss you from your head to your toe.

Wording for a gift certificate (also known as gift voucher) is difficult to get right. There are a few mandatory elements and some optional elements you want to include in a gift voucher. In addition to these standard elements, you might consider a few legal mentions to include in order to force certain restrictions on the usage of your gift voucher.

Mandatory elements

When you’re filing a gift certificate template, don’t forget to include the following elements:

name of your company

recipient’s name

voucher value (in dollars or your local currency) or service provided. This is the most sensitive element of the certificate. In particular, you don’t want for the customer to easily change the amount! So it’s better to have it printed rather than manually written.

certificate serial number. A serial number is important for multiple reasons, in particular to fight against fraud and to keep track of gift vouchers you’ve issued. By giving every gift voucher a unique number, you can easily verify that it has not been modified when the customer wants to redeem it. For example, you can have a tracking log associating serial number with its value, issuance date and customer name.

A few optional elements

purchaser’s name: probably a mandatory element for most vouchers!

personal message: this is a very nice way to personalize a certificate, by giving the possibility to the purchaser to add a custom message for the receiver.

Legal mentions

restriction for a certain type of service/product: if you want to offer a certificate for a specific service, mention “valid only for service X” or “to be used towards the purchase of X”.

no cash value. This will protect you against customers willing to redeem the certificate for cash (people will try to do that!). Mention “no cash value” or “not redeemable for cash” on the certificate.

non-transferability: if you want the certificate to be redeemed only by the person whose name is mentioned on the certificate, mention “non-transferrable” on the certificate.

certificate expiration: this might not be legal in your state/country. Check your legal regulations or an attorney for this. If it is legal, you might want to include a certificate expiration date, to avoid having certificates out in the open for years. One year from now is a good default. Mention “expiration date: 2012-03-17″.

Now you know what elements are important to come up with for a good gift certificate wording, so work your way through a gift certificate template and mix and match the different elements until you’re satisfied with the result!

“Questions provide the key to unlocking our unlimited potential,” says Robbins. “Quality questions create a quality life. Successful people ask better questions, and as a result, they get better answers.”

It is in being honest with yourself and having an open internal dialogue that you will place yourself on the path to success. “You and I have that same power at our disposal every moment of the day,” says Robbins. “At the moment, the questions that we ask ourselves can shape our perception of who we are, what we’re capable of, and what we’re willing to do to achieve our dreams.”

How do you really want to live?

What gets you most excited?

When do you feel stuck?

What kind of person will you have to become in order to achieve all that you want?

These are some of the questions Robbins suggests you ask yourself and answer honestly. “The genuine quality of life comes from consistent, quality questions,” says Robbins. If you ask yourself a great question, your mind will automatically focus on finding better answers and solutions. Conversely, “If you ask a terrible question, you’ll get a terrible answer,” he says. “Your mental computer is ever ready to serve you, and whatever question you give it, it will surely come up with an answer.”

Throughout his career, Robbins has been driven by a single question – what makes the difference in the quality of people’s lives? He has since come to realize that it is what we ask of ourselves and how well we look inside to find the answers that plays a key role. Not only does this help us understand our own internal motivations, but it also helps provide focus to our thoughts.

Every night before going to sleep, Robbins suggests asking yourself the following three questions:

What have I learned today?

What have I enjoyed today?

What have I improved or contributed today?

Simple questions, yet with powerful effects. “Most people never feel secure because they are always worried that they will lose their job, lose the money they already have, lose their spouse, lose their health, and so on,” says Robbins. “The only true security in life comes from knowing that every single day you are improving yourself in some way, that you are increasing the caliber of who you are and that you are valuable to your company, your friends, and your family.” In asking yourself the above three questions, you can work on improving yourself each and every day.

Every individual has the right to live a life of fulfillment and questions are the key to opening that door.

“The power was given to you at the moment you were born,” says Robbins. “Its source is unlimited. And when you seize it, you’ll have everything you need to create a life filled with more passion, excitement, confidence, and joy than you’ve ever dreamed. Isn’t it time to unleash the power within and claim your extraordinary potential?”

This fast paced 7 minute video will enlighten you on the Power of asking yourself the right questions. Putting this simple but extremely powerful concept to work in your own life will change your life in ways you never thought possible.

The Power Of Questions Questions are an excellent way to access your subconscious mind, and the process is a simple one.

Suppose you are in a situation where you want to make a good impression. You walk up to the person you want to impress and blurt out a tactless remark. Instantly you realize what you’ve done.

If you ask yourself a negative question like, “Why am I always such an idiot?” your brain will come up with all sorts of reasons in order to answer that question. This is of absolutely no help to you, either in the present situation or at any time in your life.

If instead you ask yourself, “How can I recover from this mess?” your brain will sort through your memory banks to come up with some strategies to redeem your blunder.

In other words, your brain will always present an answer to any question you ask yourself. The answer may not necessarily be true, but your brain feels obligated to respond to your questions and will do its best to present you with some kind of answer, whether feasible or not.

How can you use this brain function to improve your life?

Train yourself to ask only positive questions.

Questions like “Why am I so talented?” and “How did I get to be so lucky?” will give you far more positive results than those that presuppose a critical answer. Often the brain recognizes that many of these questions are rhetorical, in other words they don’t actually require an answer, but the impact is still positive. The questions imply that you are talented or you are lucky, thereby reinforcing the notion. In this sense they function the same way as affirmations.

WHY Questions

Asking, “Why do I always fail?” will inevitably lead to answers like “Because you’re a loser!”

“How can I succeed in this venture?” will lead to creative and useful answers.

Why questions are often circular in nature and are not utilized in this particular process. Replace them with questions like *How can I do this? *What do I need to do next? *When do I need to finish this? *Where do I need to be right now? *What do I need to learn here?

Daily Questions

Anthony Robbins popularized the use of questions in his excellent tape programs, Personal Power and Personal Power II. Tony devised three sets of questions: one for mornings, one for night, and another set to use when dealing with problems throughout the day.

1. The Morning Questions

Answer the following questions every morning to set yourself up for a positive day.

1.What am I most happy about in my life right now? What about that makes me happy? How does that make me feel? (Repeat these two secondary questions after each main question)

2.What am I most excited about in my life right now?

3.What am I most proud of in my life right now?

4.What am I most grateful for in my life right now?

5.What am I enjoying most in my life right now?

6.What am I most committed to in my life right now?

7.Who do I love? Who loves me?

2. The Evening Questions

Ask yourself these questions at the end of each day before sleep.

1.What have I given today?

2.What did I learn today?

3.How has today added to my life?

4.How can I use today as an investment in my future?

5.What did I do today towards reaching my goals?

6.Optional: Add the morning questions.

3. The Problem Solving Questions

These questions are helpful when working towards a goal and/or encountering an obstacle.

1.What do I need to do today towards reaching my goals?

2.How can I become successful and enjoy the process?

3.What can I learn from this experience?

4.What do I respect about this person?

5.What’s actually funny about this situation that I haven’t noticed before?

6.What’s great in my life right now?

7.How can I make this happen right now and enjoy the process?

The three sets of questions can be printed in a large font on separate sheets of paper and displayed in your work space.

This valuable lesson comes from notes taken while spending 2 weeks in Kona Hawaii At one of Tony’s seminars,

A burning smell from the adapter is a warning sign. It indicates that it either needs to be replaced or monitored from a closer angle. The smell of burning plastic from laptop chargers can be very dangerous and must be looked into immediately. When you smell something like that, you must disconnect the laptop power supply right away. If you fail to do so, you may just end up damaging your laptop. Unplug the charger from the AC/DC jack of a laptop before you go any further.

The smell of burning plastic can be due to the charger itself. You should pay special attention to the plastic insulation of the cables on laptop chargers. If you find any bare wires, you have found the spot where sparking took place and burnt the plastic around the wire. If you find nothing damaged along the plastic insulation of the cable, take a look at the tip. If you see melted plastic at the tip of the charger, it is a sure sign that something has really gone wrong. Such things usually take place when there is a short circuit connection between the tip of the charger and the socket of the laptop.

It is very important not to take any of these signs lightly. Ignoring these signs at an early stage can lead to potential risks later on. A laptop charger is an extremely important accessory that should work well at all times. If not, you shouldn’t hesitate to shell out some money to get it replaced by your laptop manufacturer or purchase the same model online.

A short circuit usually occurs when the power from the laptop adapter is obstructed on its way to the laptop. In other words, the electrical power does not flow smoothly all the way from the socket to the motherboard of the laptop. During this time, a lot of heat is generated. Overheating can quickly melt the insulation around a laptop charger cable or other plastic components near the tip of the charger. When this problem surfaces, you should immediately take your laptop adapter to a professional and get it checked.

While a professional can try to fix your laptop chargers for a small fee, you shouldn’t really rely on something that has failed you in the past. If anything goes wrong with the product again, it can cost you dearly. Safety should always be the number one priority for everyone. It is important not to keep using the same malfunctioning charger once again simply because it seems to be working fine at the moment.

Such a charger may continue to recharge your battery for a while, but can cause something really nasty like a fire or other accident after you use it continuously for a few hours. Instead of allowing such undesirable events to take place, just buy an original laptop charger from a reputed online seller of laptop chargers.

A frequent complaint that is made by PS3 owners is the flashing red light. A number of probable causes have to be checked. Start off by checking the hard drives proper connectivity. Detach it and attach it again securely, which may cure your PS3 of the flashing red light. If your PS3 requires a new hard drive, this accounts for buying a new system altogether.

Can I fix this problem on my own?

In case your system collapses every 5 second, try running a search over the internet to find helpful forums and blogs.

It is important to know that you are not the only one struck by this PS3 flashing red light. There have been thousands of similar cases among the PS3 owners till now, who have found suitable solutions to fix their problems. You can try them in repairing your PS3 as well. This method is the most affordable. If you make a mistake in following the instructions you can start all over again.

Why can’t I just go to Sony?

Why shouldn’t you contact Sony? It is an option alright, yet be ready to make huge payments in the name of service charges, shipment and replacement of parts. Even if your PS3 is still under warranty, don’t take the risk of still being charged and getting back your system much later than when you expected.

So, using a PS3 repair guide to fix the PS3 flashing red light problem is a better option as compared to the service by Sony. This is a more affordable method showing great results.

If you choose not spend $150 at the Sony repair center and not to wait for as long as 6 weeks, embrace this comprehensive PS3 flashing red light fix guide.

Fashion umbrellas are for fashion conscious individuals who want to look their best even when the weather is no as friendly. They come in all kinds of stylish chic designs not just on the canopies but also their handles and frames. You can find all kinds of designs in the market and select what you find most unique and fitting for your style. Businesses can also use fashion umbrellas as promotional giveaways for the right target market and make a lasting impression on potential customers or existing customers for that matter.

However fashionable these umbrellas may be, you will only look as fashionable when you get it right carrying them. Umbrellas can be hazardous when not properly handled and for this reason you need to be mindful of the people around you even when you are commanding all the attention from them with your pretty umbrella.

Carry the umbrella high and off your face

It may be the most beautiful umbrella around, but you also want some attention to your face and your outfit if at all you are to be a complete fashion package. Keeping the umbrella off your face also ensures that you have clear vision of where you are headed so necessary measures can be taken on time. Keeping it high saves you from constantly colliding with other passersby and makes your umbrella stand out from a distance as well.

Keep your hands as free as possible

When carrying an umbrella, you need to have a hand that is dedicated to that. If you have stuff to carry, then a bag that you can hang over your shoulder can make it easy for you to walk majestically with the beauty umbrella in hand. Avoid using your phone or device when carrying your umbrella as this can be distracting and you may even have a hard time handling the umbrella properly. Always carry your umbrella elegantly but firmly so it brings out that fashionable look you yearn to achieve on the overall.

Close it up stylishly when not in use

It may be too wet to fold and store away in your case, but you can close it up in such a way that it does not cause any distractions and at the same time has space to drip off the water. You can hold it elegantly beside you facing down so its beauty is still showcased without looking ridiculous. You can do this when walking under awning or when the rain subsides yet the umbrella is too wet to fold up and store away in your handbag.

Ensure it matches your style

Some prints on fashion umbrellas can be daring and offensive for some people. It is therefore important that you choose something that gives off a positive feel around you and your personality. This way, you will feel more comfortable carrying your umbrella knowing that all the glances received are all for the right reasons. Exercise good umbrella etiquette and you will look stylish all through.

Tony Soprano is one of the most intriguing and enigmatic characters in the history of television. Understanding him psychologically is a difficult proposition, although many of the shows other character’s have proffered some ideas. In one early episode, Dr. Melfi’s husband Richard refers to Tony as Alexithymic, the short definition being “the inability to talk about feelings due to a lack of emotional awareness.” This definition is definitely somewhat accurate, as Tony often reacts with rage during periods of confusion and frustration.

One classic example of this comes when Tony enters his office and sees that someone has purchased a “Big Mouth Billy Bass” and placed it on his desk. Seeing the singing fish reminds Tony of his dream about Big Pussy, and this memory floods Tony with multiple emotions that he is unable to process or understand. Tony reacts to this emotional flooding by beating Georgie, (A favorite pastime) who he learns placed the fish in his office, as this choice allows him to temporarily exorcise his uncomfortable feelings through this physically violent reaction.

At one point Dr. Melfi suggests Tony has an Anti-Social Personality Disorder. People with this disorder often show a persistent pattern of conduct disorder in their teen years which involves breaking the law, poor academic performance, disrespect for authority as well as several other more severe criteria including torturing animals and starting fires. Throughout the series we learn several things about Tony’s younger years. In Season 1, we learn from Uncle Junior and Livia that Tony and his friends stole a car, and also that Tony used to sell stolen lobsters in an effort to earn some extras cash. In another episode we see him skipping school, breaking into his father’s car, and generally being very willing to bend the rules.

Skip to Tony’s teen years and we learn that Tony has become good enough at sports to become a “varsity athlete” despite Junior’s claim that he wasn’t. He graduates from High School and attends Seton Hall for a semester and a half, before he “got into some trouble” (revealed to Meadow during the episode “College”) and goes to prison for a short while. While Tony is insisting to Dr. Melfi that he never engaged in Homosexual activities, we learn his time in prison was relatively short, and we can therefore assume his crime was relatively minor. Around this same time Tony robbed Feech Lamana’s card game, which was a major turning point in his life where he became officially respected as a gangster.

From this brief look at Tony’s adolescence we learn he probably did meet many of the characteristics for conduct disorder but possibly not enough to make a firm diagnoses. Which moves us to the diagnoses of Anti-Social personality disorder, which according to the DSM-IV, involves “a pervasive pattern of disregard for and violation of the rights of others occurring since age 15 years, as indicated by three (or more) of the following:

(1) failure to conform to social norms with respect to lawful behaviors as indicated by repeatedly performing acts that are grounds for arrest

(2) deceitfulness, as indicated by repeated lying, use of aliases, or conning others for personal profit or pleasure

(3) impulsivity or failure to plan ahead

(4) irritability and aggressiveness, as indicated by repeated physical fights or assaults

(7) lack of remorse, as indicated by being indifferent to or rationalizing having hurt, mistreated, or stolen from another

B. The individual is at least age 18 years.

C. There is evidence of Conduct Disorder with onset before age 15 years.

D. The occurrence of antisocial behavior is not exclusively during the course of Schizophrenia or a Manic Episode.

So, does Tony meet at least three of these criteria? The answer seems to be that yes of course he does. Although he does not seem to meet the criteria for number 6, there have been multiple examples of his actions meeting the criteria for the other 6 components. But does this diagnosis truly encapsulate Tony Soprano? It doesn’t appear to. The fact is that Tony is capable of unselfish and extremely generous acts, although often these actions have ulterior motives. Therefore to truly get a sense of the patterns of Tony Soprano’s life, it is extremely useful to use an Adlerian model to examine the patterns of his basic convictions. The Adlerian model looks at key components of a person’s life, and also at their early recollections in an attempt to examine several key determinants that Adler believed made up a person’s unique lifestyle.

Gender Role Preparation perceived through Gender Guiding Lines and Role Models

Through observing their parents and the gender patterns they adopt in their relations, a person learns to conceptualize a personal definition of what a man is and what a woman is. From watching his father, “Johnny Boy” Soprano, a respected and feared Mafioso, Tony formed several impression of what it is to be a man. First and foremost Tony learned that the man is the breadwinner in the family, and that he needs to do whatever it takes, regardless of the law, to provide for his family.

Tony also learned a great deal about conflict resolution from watching his father deal with people from around the neighborhood. One particularly important observation was watching his father handle a man named Satriale who had been avoiding him because he owed him a debt. When Tony watches his father chop off the man’s finger as a result of this dispute, Tony formed an early impression that a man goes to any lengths, despite the law, when that man owes him a debt. This impression was again confirmed when he watched his father brutally pummel a neighbor named Rocco, who also owed Johnny a debt.

Tony also learned a great deal from watching his father’s work habits throughout the years, and this affected his own adult attitude towards work. The beatings Tony witnessed in the previous situations were both over an attempt to collect a debt, and Tony saw that a great deal of Johnny’s income was simply taken by force or the threat of violence. Therefore he learned that men don’t need to work if they can take things from others, and this was a lesson that appeared to resonate.

In one notable event that occurred in Tony’s teen years, he covers for his father to his mother when she correctly assumes he’s been with another woman. In this situation, Tony, who has most likely learned through watching his father lie many times before, that it’s OK for a man to lie when confronted by an uncomfortable situation.

Through Tony’s interactions with his mother he learned that a woman, although she works in the home, holds a great deal of power and control in interpersonal relationships. One early impression came from watching his father and mother interact after his father brings home a large order of meat, and Tony observes that this was the only time his mother was ever really happy. Tony also makes the connection that when his father brought gifts it was “probably the only time he got laid” which also created the impression for Tony that a woman only provides sexual gratification to men when they are given gifts, and this was an idea that also seemed to translate to his adult life.

Interpersonal Style perceived through Experience of Family Atmosphere

The family atmosphere in the Soprano family was one of storm and strife. As Tony’s sister Janice correctly explains to her husband Bobby, “In my family it was dog eat dog.” This was an accurate description of the Soprano household, and much of this difficulty stemmed from the interactions between Livia and Johnny which were based on repetitive patterns of incessant nagging on Livia’s part and extreme deceit on Johnny’s. Livia’s tyranny over the house may have even eventually contributed to Johnny’s physical decline, as in Tony’s estimation she wore this very strong man into a “little nub.”

Livia Soprano’s love was conditional love. Livia was extremely critical of her children and she did not demonstrate encouragement and support of their endeavors which appeared to stimulate a lifelong pattern of self-doubt in both Tony as well as his sister Janice. Discouraged children often grow up to be angry and unfulfilled adults, as they begin to feel that everything they do will not live up to someone’s standards. In these situations a kind of “learned helplessness” (Seligman 1965) can take place, where kids simply give up rather than continuing to compete in a seemingly hopeless situation. This appeared to be the case with Janice Soprano, who spends a lifetime avoiding any kind of useful activity rather than have to be judged a failure as she has so many times before.

Tony on the other hand compensated for this lack of love like his father did by lashing out at others, finding temporary gratification though many sexual conquests, and finding solace in acquiring material possessions.

Livia also talked openly of killing her children when Tony was a young man, which he must have seen as a great devaluation of his importance and worth in his mother’s life. In one notable instance Livia tells Tony she could “smother him with a pillow” which terrifies Tony and makes him question how far his mother might really go in enforcing punishment in the Soprano household. Johnny Soprano on the other hand freely used corporal punishment in the house, and in Tony’s words, “the belt was his favorite child development tool.” Johnny clearly demonstrated though many of his actions in the house that violence was an appropriate response to frustration, and this was also a value that Tony seemed to inherit.

Johnny Soprano was also consistently deceitful in his dealings with his family, and his constant deceit was often the trigger that sent Livia flying into a rage. One early example of Johnny’s deceit came following his arrest at a kid’s carnival, where he tells his children the cops made a terrible mistake and arrested the wrong guys, which would be difficult for even a child to believe.

Another important event that confirms Johnny’s constant deceit occurred when Tony was a teenager and Livia was in the hospital having suffered a miscarriage where she was in dire physical danger. Johnny, who was staying overnight with his mistress, concocts an elaborate lie that hinged on Tony supporting the lie and confirming the story for his hospitalized mother. Tony does go along with the lie, and this event marked as major turning point where he embraces the deceitful lifestyle and begins to head down the path his father has paved for him.

Personal Code of Conduct perceived through Acceptance / Rejection of Family Values

When Tony embraced his father’s lying ways, he was essentially accepting the Soprano family values, all of which were also modeled by Tony’s Uncle Junior. Although Tony made a brief attempt at following a different path by going to college, his robbery of Feech Lamana’s card game demonstrated an early lesson learned from his father that if someone wants something that it is easier to simply take it from others than to actually work for it. This idea was strongly reinforced when Tony was caught for this act and he was not only not punished, but in effect promoted into the “family” following this brazen and irresponsible action.

For Tony the term “family values” obviously had more than one meaning, but upon close examination the values modeled in the Sopranos household were the same that were necessary to survive and even thrive in the mafia “family” Tony was also a part of. For instance Livia used the threat of killing someone weaker than her to retain order in the house and get people to comply with her wishes. The exact same thing is used by the mafia family, as the threat of pending violence is one of the key ways the family perpetuates its wealth.

The family value of deceit in the house was also a necessary value to succeed in the larger Mafia family. The code of “Omerta” implies silence and avoidance of even discussing the organization, and this is an interesting connection to make considering the fact that Livia was so against Tony going to therapy as she felt he was there to “talk about his mother.” Livia, who preferred the family secrets stay buried, was so consumed by feelings of anger from thinking that Tony would reveal her secrets to a therapist, that she in essence convinced Junior to have him killed. Returning to the moment of the idea Tony is Alexithymic, one can speculate that this condition might stem from his mother’s absolute inability to promote the sharing of feelings in the Soprano household.

Perspective on the World perceived through Experience of Psychological Birth Order

As the second born child of three, Tony’s assumed the position of the classic middle child. The second born child often takes their cues from the oldest child, who has been in the world longer and provides a roadmap for the second child to follow. Second born children are often the rebels in the family, as the first borns tend to be responsible and can often even be like a second parent. The second child therefore often finds belonging through acting distinctively different than the first, as the first is naturally better at things because of their advanced age and physical development. This was partially true in Tony’s case, as Janis appeared to enjoy flaunting her position as the eldest, and at least in her early childhood convinced her father she was a well-behaved and accomplished child. Tony on the other hand showed immediate rebellious behavior, and found belonging through being as Junior described a “little hellion” who learned to fit in and get attention through misbehavior.

Adler made a strong point of emphasizing that birth order also had a psychological component to it, where the literal birth order may differ from the physical birth order. This can happen when the first born son usurps the first born female child and becomes the de facto leader of the children, as he comes from a culture that values males over women. This dynamic appeared to manifest itself in the Soprano household. In Tony’s case Janis, who enjoyed the power of being the first born but not the responsibility, in effect passed the torch of responsibility as the first born to Tony, who became responsible for the family as he entered into adulthood.

Range of Social Interest perceived through Other Particularities

Adler believed that the extent and degree that a person takes an interest in his or her fellow human beings was an excellent predictor of their mental health. Tony never developed this interest in others, and instead came to value others based on their personal usefulness to him. There are many examples of this in Tony’s life, one example being his relationship with Paulie, who fell out of Tony’s favor following a financial downturn in Season 4. Even in his dealings with Artie Bucco Tony often sizes up how Artie can be useful to him, and despite their imbalance of power Tony finds little ways to exploit this friendship for his personal gain.

Tony’s odd obsession with animals also demonstrates his inability to share emotions with other human beings, and again this behavior might have some its roots in the lack of love and support he received from his mother. Tony often projects feelings onto animals that he is unable to feel for human beings, and this trait shows how confusing and upset Tony gets when confronted by negative emotions.

Conclusion

In conclusion Tony Sopano’s life is one lived with little insight or mindfulness. This lack of insight has lead to an external locus of control where he views the bad things that happen to him as bad luck His statements “I can’t catch a break” and “I’m like king Midas in reverse” are example of this behavior, and these claims don’t jibe with the many, many fortuitous events in Tony’s life.

Tony also likes to present the idea that he is a “sad clown” but again the evidence in his life does not seem to support this. When Tony is angry or hurt he nearly always responds with physical violence, and occasionally with em0tional violence such as when he calls Melfi a “cunt” following her rebuke of his advances. The sad clown motif indicates the sense of pity Tony often feels for himself, and his general pessimistic attitude towards life.

Adler felt that by gaining insight into your behavior you could begin to understand the patterns and faulty thinking and logic that these patterns then created. Melfi, after many years has uncovered some of these patterns, but doesn’t seem to offer much assistance as to how to process this information. The result has been that Tony continues to repeat many of the patterns directly inherited from watching his parents, and despite his often empty promises to change his life, this is really not possible without going back to the beginning.

Adler referred to this idea as “soft” determinism, meaning a person’s patterns of behavior were firmly and deeply entrenched, and very, very difficult to change without a tremendous amount of insight. Although nearly dying was a kind of apotheosis for Tony, it is likely he will return to much of his former behavior as he falls back into these familiar patterns.

Developing a humanoid robot has long since captured the human imagination and will be the continued focus in the future of robotics. Scientists say there are two obstacles to creating a robot with human or super-human intelligence: vision and processing sensory information. “It is almost impossible to predict when machines will become as clever as humans,” admits Ronald Arkin, a robotics expert at the Mobile Robot Laboratory in Atlanta, Georgia. “Although work in magnetic resonance imaging holds great promise, researchers can now watch areas of the brain light up as individuals carry out specific mental tasks. When we have that knowledge, we can pass it on to computers.”

Motor vehicle production is one area where robotics automation is already being used. Yet imagine a world where we can read, have a glass of wine, talk freely on our cell phones or take a nap while our personal automobile drives itself from our workplace to our doorstep. Or perhaps we’ll abandon the wheeled prototypes altogether and kick back in our personal flying car like numerous science fiction films predict. So how far are we from such a future?

Well, in 2007, the US Defense Advanced Research Project Agency had 83 robotic system vehicles driving through a 60-mile urban course, navigating around other vehicles, pedestrians and obstacles; all without incident. Just three years ago, robotic vehicles couldn’t even drive straight across the wide-open desert without crashing. “The robotics industry is developing in much the same way the computer business did thirty years ago,” Microsoft founder Bill Gates observed.

So what is in store for the future of robotics in the workplace? The US military is one of the biggest donators to robotic research, as they hope to replace human lives with robotics automation, reducing our casualties in war. Robots are already completing reconnaissance missions, disassembling explosives and firing on enemy combatants.

Military chiefs are aiming to make a third of all ground vehicles driver-less by 2015. Researchers are also looking at robots similar to those featured in Isaac Asimov’s “I Robot” that cooperate together in a swarm-like way to complete complex tasks. Just the size of a small bug, these insect swarms look unassuming but are capable of jamming communication lines, gathering intelligence and firing at enemy combatants.

The future of robotics is taking aim at the rapidly aging population, with the end goal of providing for the elderly in places like the US which will see 97 million baby boomers in need of care or in Japan, where 22% of the population is over 65. Currently $1 billion is spent each year researching how autonomous robots can care for the elderly. Secom’s “My Spoon” robot, for instance, can feed disabled people by breaking up food into chewable morsels and spooning it into their mouths. “Paro,” another Japanese invention, looks like a baby seal and responds to the affection of lonely elderly patients, while also monitoring their heart rate and health symptoms.

The lovable Care Bears were first created by the American Greetings company in the year 1981. They were intended to be used on greeting cards and become very popular to the public. Artist Elena Kucharik was the very first to create the images of our beloved Care Bears and by 1983 they were made into a series of plushy teddy bears popular amongst kids. Later on they were given their own cartoon series that lasted from 1985 to 1988 and then they got three major motion picture cartoon movies called, The Care Bears Movie, Care Bears Movie II: A New Generation, and The Care Bears Adventure in Wonderland.

Each of the Care Bears comes in a different color and they have colorful graphics on their bellies. The Care Bears are able to make magical power beams shoot out from their bellies to help fix a lot of problems. Each of the Care Bears has a different beam that shoots out from their bellies and holds the all of their love and special care. Each Care Bear has a different specialized graphic and a different special care. For example, Bedtime Bear has a sleepy crescent moon on his belly. He is able to send out a beam of special sleepy time care. And Cheer Bear is a happy fellow who can help others feel happier with his beam of cheerful energy.

Even today the Care Bears are popular among the kids. They just love to cuddle with their own special Care Bear. The Care Bears have all kinds of merchandising and entertainment available. You’ll find them in cartoons, books, music, classic Care Bear toys, and video games and even in comic books. They still feature the Care Bears on greetings cards too, so you can send a Care Bears card to someone special on their birthday.